Leitrim Science Festival to show you don’t have to be a ‘science person’ to enjoy

Whether you are a fan of True crime, a Traitors obsessive, or interested in women’s health, live science shows, pottery, river cruises, Leitrim and Roscommon Science Week Festival has an event.

The first week-long science festival in the region will run from 8-15 November. Science Week 2026 will host events across the two counties to bring science to people of all ages.

Organisers say the festival aims to show that you don’t have to think of yourself as a “science person” to find something in Science Week for you.

“There's a vision that Science Week is for schools,” said Louise Gallagher, co-ordinator of Ripple Effect, who is helping local county councils run the event.

“I think it's just about changing that narrative. It's actually for everybody. So we've really kind of leaned into that it's for adults, families, individuals.”

“We're really trying to put on a program of events that, like, catches a wide audience,”

The programme, themed around water, is designed to show how much science is hidden in the stories, experiences and questions that are already part of everyday life.

In an event for True Crime lovers, Leitrim crime writer and journalist Paul Williams will join John Sweetman, former Garda Technical Bureau expert and host of the Lines of Enquiry podcast.

The pair will have a deep-dive conversation, hosted by science communicator Barry Fitzgerald,

into past investigations and crimes in Ireland and look at how Irish weather affects investigations.

The Traitors Ireland will also feature in this year’s programme, with former Leitrim footballer and recent Traitors Ireland contestant Donal Casey appearing alongside sports psychologist Shane Carrington and host Barry Fitzgerald.

Casey, whose promising football career was cut short last year following a serious injury, will talk about resilience, setbacks and pressure on the football pitch before taking audiences inside the very different psychological battle he experienced in The Traitors castle.

“He has such a story from his injury that stopped him playing football right up to The Traitors,” said Gallagher.

Women’s health will also play a large role in the festival with events aimed at women and girls of all ages.

In a relaxed and accessible evening, Dr Mary Ryan, Consultant Endocrinologist and Physician, will be in conversation with local pharmacist Maj Cunningham, where they will tackle the questions women often want answered about hormonal changes throughout life, including the signs of perimenopause, menopause, symptoms to look out for and how women can better look after themselves throughout life.

Meanwhile, Teenage girls will have an event of their own with Fuel, Feel, Flourish. The event features sports nutrition expert Dr Sharon Madigan, sports psychologist Jo-Anne Browne, GP Dr Tara Treacy and All-Ireland-winning Leitrim footballer Charlene Tyrrell.

While several events focus on health, wellbeing and psychology, the festival also offers a wide range of hands-on experiences for children and families.

RTÉ’s Mark the Science Guy, scientist, broadcaster and Head of Science & Sport at Explorium, will bring his trademark high-energy approach to the festival, while W5 will bring Extreme Existence: The Deep to Roscommon, taking young audiences into some of the most extreme environments on Earth.

Science Afloat will transform the Moon River boat in Carrick-on-Shannon into a floating laboratory, where families can come aboard and test the water themselves, while learning about the river creatures of the Shannon.